Regarding the Martial Arts Commuinty (Who are they really) ?

A huge portion (the largest) of the community is made up from childrens

enrollments. This is the realm of the novice. It is a safe haven to play in,
pretend and pursue skill in the common martial arts such as the Korean arts,
Japanese arts etc.

The next largest segment is the auxilliary players. Collection agencys,

supporters, uniform manufacturers, martial art gear retailers and such. The
infrastructure that serves this realm's needs. Some are not directly involved.
This area goes beyond the martial bounds and covers many aspects of life.

Next comes the buzz-kids, movie freaks, video game goofs, wannabee's and fantasy
players. No real intent here to join a studio or train, yet they thrive on the
video violence and consider themselves "knowledgeable" about the arts. (seen all
of Bruce Lee's movies five times) .

Our final portion and the smallest is the area of martial endeavor which actually
addresses combat. The killing of others in violent confrontation. The realm of
pro's and tactical experts. Not many dwell here friends, it's no fun, no glory,
just blood and pain, even regret at times. This is the toughest area, yet the
smallest and yet without this specific area, none of the others could or will
progress. It is combat which influences our community, not childish "Ninja-Turtle"
crap, it only influences the pocketbook.

Do we need more followers I ask you? I think not. What we need is more leaders,
realists, creators and researchers. Do we (the community) need more sports? Hell
no. Combat has never been an avenue for sports. To say or think otherwise is bad
thinking at its best.

What is the Training Hall or Studio (symbollically) ?

Beyond the stereotype we are all familiar with it can be everywhere and
everything. It is a safe place to learn and grow. It is the nest, the den, the
lodge or crib where we inter-relate with others of our species. Thereby we
establish positive growth and survival skills. This goes well beyond the mere
physical aspects of combatives. Think food, shelter, financial freedom, childhood,
adulthood, hygiene and respect for life. The Hall can be symbolic of your entire
existence.

What is a System and What is a Style ?

A system is a "one size fits all" sort of deal. A method many can employ to reach
a certain degree of expertise. A Style a personal path) fits only you and can a
blend of many things. Systems do not take into account personal hadicaps, a man's
own STYLE does. A system cannot prepare one for environmental issues, a style can.
Your personal style is great for YOU, but generic systems are best for public
teachings.

What - Who is a Master (sensei, grandmaster, grand poobah, the head honcho, etc)

Someone copes well under lifes extremes. Someone who has gained a way to deal with
lifes many variables and woes and who usually comes out on top. Because someone
can successfully kick-ass does not mean they are a master. The title must be
earned via long term continuous good examples, good judgements. The term comes
from the people, not other teachers or fighters. One saying of an old teacher of
mine goes like this:
There are students and there are master students, but there are no masters.
What is a Title about ? (Martial arts abound with goofy titles ya know)

Oh geeeeez, hmm, a title is many things. It can be a gift to help business, it can
be a trap to force an issue. A title can be a political lever and it can also be a
honor to recieve one. A title should be a descriptor to the culture - society it
is working-living within. The term SHIHAN says little to the American mind, but
"Senior-expert" says a ton! Our titles must relate to our world, environment,
websites and cultures in order for them to carry any weight at all. Respect should
accompany your title, but if those about you cannot fathom your worth or reason
then the title has missed its mark. It is derelict in its duty. In my world title
means little, you either do it or you dont. As another old teacher (Jim Ingram)
used to say as he held up his hands before himself: "Let your guns do your talking
for you".

What is the General Purpose Which Underlies Martial Arts Training?

There is only one purpose and that is combative survival skills and knowledge. Not
games, sports, fitness, not religion, not oneness nor harmony. COMBATIVES first,
then all the rest can fit as they fantasically shall. Yah, Yah, you can babble and
bark, save yer emails, I love my dork-delete button. No matter how you hide it,
combat is the front runner here mate. Now, who will not buy into this logic? Ah, I
know, weaklings, money grubbers and dojo-dorks and the sheeple they herd will no
doubt shudder at my words written here as if blast forth straight from Satans
mouth they were. You must grasp this fact .. most combat related material falls
well outside the parameters of "acceptable" martial arts training. Why is that?
Hmm, lemme see now, ah yes, here it is: We all hide from our own violence, we
always have, we always do, those who choose to longer hide are then branded
"crazy" or renegades. Indeed fearsome men have always endured this mark of cain.
There are tigers and sheeple in the world. It is always thus.

Commercial Mis-Direction: Stage Magic with your Mind and Wallet? (Sell Fantasy -
Practice Reality?)

The lone customer staggers into the local dojo. He is looking for self defense and
some confidence. The sign out front had those words on it. So he came in seeking
those things because he feels he needs them. But, what does mr. dojo-guy do? Boom,
mis-direction at once! It'zzzzzzzz Jammy time! Time for buying your Gi or uniform,
punchy people pajamas for a "real" training experience. (Yah yah, god fucking
preserve us all from this tripe). Then push the rank crap right away too, push the
certified crap too, double talk for the same thing, but the package appears better
then ya see. Priorities are swiftly re-arranged by commercial sensei so that
things are in HIS favor. God Dammit! Give the customer what they want and need,
not some used car-slick sales trickery! It is about our customers needs, NOT about
the teachers ego or wallet!
Martial arts are not touted as being seasonal as with sports games. But, in many
ways they should be seasonal. Why are we not balanced in this way? Because Mr.
commercial sensei wants-needs yer dough joe ! He doesn't even know yer frigging
name, just your account number. Take the summer off, see ya next season eh?

You see the medias have concocted such a mass of martial arts crapola that few
people can honestly seperate fact from falsehood. It has became a condition of
FLASH over MASH, of "looking good" versus "fighting good"...ugh, a nasty trick
there. Thus lodging thousands of pretty wannbees into conditions of control who
look cool, have ranks and connections and yet cannot FIGHT for shit ! DOH !
Looking cool equates with other wannbees needs. They trick only their same kind in
other words.
Reality based warriors rarely look or act the part. Staying "grey" unseen, that is
their choice of operating modes. This type rarely shows off, they are watcher-
stalkers. They know the kill comes from surprise, ambush and entrapment, not "big
balls". If a pro must pull their sword then they do, they do the job and re-sheath
fast. Wannabee's are constantly waving their sword about and missing the mark over
and again. Odd ain't it? Real confidence looks and feels differently from fantasy
crap.

WHO'S Tradition? WHO'S WAY ? WTF ?

Well, usually it isn't my tradition or your tradition is it? Not even the
"tradition" of modern asian peoples. Japanese, Korean, Chinese system rest heavily
upon "tradition". Haw, sadly true! So, what is it then? It is preservation of
culture, a museum of motion and methods if you will. Things gathered from a time
when they were more appropriate for the times. Think cultural preservation society
and you be closer than saying they are a martal arts method. (since when has
tradition been a barrier to thugs?) If you need history then go to a museum, if
you need to learn about combat then you should go to a dojo, but sadly that is NOT
how it is today. Extinct cultural values carry little weight today in modern
times. To the martial arts industry as a whole I say this: "Grow the fuck up and
catch up or die".

There are means, methods and traditions relevent to this world and the combat we
are enduring, yet somehow, blindly, stupidly the entire martial arts indutry has
chosen not to see it. Gads ? The HEAD in the SAND syndrome popularized by
ostriches and cowards.Yah, a-huh, yeppers, reality is a bitch, much harder to face
than all that pretty-clever metro-sexual crap being passed off as combat in
studios today. (Gee, don't cry Nancy, it'll be ok... just go buy a gun a GET
fucking - REAL.).
TRADITION STARTS HERE! TODAY! NOW! And forever shall it change from day to day,
thus integrity is kept and reality is addressed. This is your true legacy warrior!

Sports versus COMBAT: (Some ideas, a perspective from naughty, cranky old Jak)

Hurting, hitting others is NEVER a sport in my playbook. They simply cannot co-
exist together, more lies to please ourselves. Hurting others is a necessity of
life at times, but it is never a game. Sports are about ego, pride and money.
Combat is about survival, completion of the mission and staying alive! To play
sports requires one to be active, healthy and young. Not so in order to be a
successful self defense exponent.

SPORTS offer all of the wrong things to their players: Bad targets (reducing you
to a few limited techniques), stopping after hitting, antique weapons for
entertainment and dragging a fight out beyond logical limits. Sports makes you
stay-think inside the box. This creates a viscious cycle of non-growth and
frustration.
Combatives on the other hand employ a wide range of techniques and skills to get
the job done. Combat encourages thinking outside the box. You must do it or die.
JKD was based upon some idea like this ya know.

The ANCIENT and the MODERN: Where do we stand?

(Why such a non-existence of skills abound for todays world and weapons for
martial artists?)

The old way of the Samurai had these (and other) ideals set forth: But the old one
did not mean to take this literally. Meaning samurai recommendations of old went
like this: Horsemanship (ba-jitsu), archery (Kyudo), sword skill (kenjitsu),
medicine (kappo), culture (Sumi, ikebana).
The modern version would read thus: Defensive driving skills, riflecraft,
pistolcraft, firstaid, cpr and Paramedic skills, a college degree. Get the idea
bunky? I knew YOU would!

Some argue that traditional weapons play promotes coordination and such, hell so
does tennis mate! The masters of yore taught us to
A. Use what is at hand, master it as weapon even if it is not
B. If you can get real weapons, by all means use them well
C. Be prepared and think outside the box. Yes, be tricky Ricky! (read Richard Kims
book)
This is the essence, not some constipated-outdated rice flail shit or monkey-whack
stick crap, grwo dammit, see thru the commercial fog purposely put there to keep
thee retarded and held back. Pierce the veil of illusion scholar and advance!

Those Damned "RIGHTS and WRONG's and their confusing dual interactions in Martial
Arts

Are there right and wrong techniques really? Are there really right & wrong
applications of techniques, just one way? Or is all this once again just pre-
determined, well planned points of confusion to keep you at the trough, keep you
paying for something thats as easy throwing a ball. Amigo's, believe me, there are
no right or wrong anythings... just men and the physics which govern this
universe. Some techniques or tricks may be more timely or appropriate than others,
but honestly, it's an open door, do not be fooled by the old "Right & Wrong" dojo
game. Thinking in thus manner is already a self limiting program, just be and
react naturally, you'll do fine.

Are there evil, immoral techniques which ought not to be taught? No mate, just
evil men. We do what we must to survive, like the HIGHLANDER, there can be only
ONE!
Consider the difference in military, law enforcement and civilian applications of
force and firearms. Therein is an ideal representation of which I speak. Ya still
don't get it? Too bad thickhead, yer called "dinner" then, (yum) C'mon, THINK! re-
consider, re-read the above, try again. It's a cosmic crapshoot at best, fate
figures in as much as training does. Advance and adapt.

Staying in Touch (it isn't much) / Lose the Crutch --- of limited thought

Believe only 3/4 of what you experience

Believe only half of what you see
Believe little or nothing of what you may hear

Stay in tune and stay in touch with your world and environment. Study daily to
maintain a clear view of whats really going on around you.
Be patient, take time to stalk your world once a week. Listen with your spirit. Be
a forward observer, a combat controller, a scout and a hunter in order to know
whats transpiring in your domain ... inside / outside, yah!

OK, we return you to your regular programming!

This has been a public service announcement from Comtech, cranky Jak and "Wake the
Fuck Up" productions Inc.

jak